Fans flock to Auburn Fan DayThousands of fans flocked to Auburn Arena to meet Gene Chizik and the 2012 edition of the Auburn football team on Sunday afternoon

AUBURN, Alabama -- Fans began lining up Sunday morning for Auburn Fan Day, the university's annual opportunity for Tigers fans to meet head coach Gene Chizik, members of the football team, soccer team, volleyball team, cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and Aubie, the school's mascot.

Approximately 9,000 fans swarmed into Auburn Arena on Sunday afternoon with arms full of helmets, posters, footballs and plenty of other memorabiliia for Chizik and rest of the football team to sign.

Chizik alone signed more than 800 items during Sunday's two-hour session.

"When you pull up to the front and you see all these people standing in line, waiting to get autographs and socialize with our team, it's humbling," Chizik said. "It makes you understand what a great responsibility we have.

Auburn's entire roster was available on Fan Day, including Jovon Robinson, the freshman running back who is being held out of practice while his high school academic status is under review.

Auburn spreads the players out across the practice courts, main court and rooms all over Auburn Arena, an imposing sight for first-timers like Kim Tekel, a Daphne native who decided to attend while helping her daughter move into her new apartment this weekend.

"It's big," Tekel said. "It's all over the place."

Making a pilgrimage to Auburn on Fan Day has become a tradition for plenty of families, from grandparents to babies being pushed around in strollers.

"This is my third year in a row," Steve Mizzell, 70, of Birmingham said. "When my grandsons were old enough to enjoy it, we started coming. Both of them are good athletes."

Some fans like to greet the players with a message of support.

Charles Silverthorn, 40, from Columbus, Ga., tries to talk to every first-year player and offer encouragement. Then he gets down to business.

Silverthorn has a room at home adorned with Auburn memorabilia, and he has a place reserved for footballs and helmets signed by the Tigers over the years.

"This makes it about my eighth year," Silverthorne said. "It brings an end to the summer, and the start of the football season."